Faults:

Factory recall - shop replaced alternator and sealed valve covers due to oil leak.

General Comments:

I got a crazy good deal on this car. It had the big gangster wheels, the leather seats, and all the crazy options like the "Veracruz" logo that lights up in blue on the door sill. Very swank.

After driving it for the past 3 years, I'm impressed: it's a solid running, powerful and capable family hauling SUV. The cargo area is spacious, the third row seat is handy, and the six speed transmission allows it to pull up any hill with ease. The 3.8 liter engine runs beautifully and provides plenty of power. Even with the big gangster wheels, it rides smoothly. The fit and finish are high quality, and it shines up and looks fabulous after wax and polishing.

I do the oil change on this vehicle, and it's the easiest job ever. The filter is a cartridge that fits into a housing that comes off the top of the engine. Just remove the unit, pull the old filter, replace a couple of O rings, insert the cartridge, then screw the filter back on with moderate torque. Easy and no mess. Drain plug is located well, doesn't splash oil all over the frame.

I really like this vehicle, and it's done very well by my family. We hope to keep it for as long as possible.

Faults:

- Wheel bearing at 85,000 km.

- Wiper motor at 94,000 km (these cost close to $1000 with shipping and tax in my province).

- Wiper motor AGAIN at 107,000 km (I purchased a used one for $250 with a 3 month warranty and it died just shy of 4 months).

- Steering rack and pinion at 115,000 km; this is about a $2500 repair.

- Power steering pump at 135,000 km.

- Exhaust leak at manifold at 120,000 km, my mechanic says about $2000 repair -- stub axle and ball joint at 135,000.

Also needs sway bar links and bushings + control arm bushings all around.

General Comments:

I will NEVER, I repeat NEVER buy another Hyundai vehicle. The things that went wrong with this vehicle would NEVER happen to any other brand of vehicle with comparable km. I have been a cab driver for over 10 years and have driven cars with 400k+ km and still with the original wiper motor; this Veracruz went through 2 wipers motors in less than 140,000 km; this is UNHEARD of. Ditto for the steering rack and power steering pump; this vehicle was not driven hard and I have been the only one driving it for the past 4 years. It boggles my minds how many problems I have had.

I was always very wary of Hyundai, but they seemed to have come a long way, then I drove a top of the line Santa Fe as a loaner car and really liked it; this precipitated me buying the Veracruz/making a huge mistake.

I wrote to Hyundai regarding the wiper motor as the vehicle has a 5 year/100,000 km warranty - the wiper motor failed at 94,000 km, but the vehicle was 6 years old. Hyundai replied with a wishy washy response about 9 months later saying that they MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE RECEIVED my email (clearly they received it, because they replied albeit 9 months later). My best advice to anyone is AVOID at all costs, you can do much better.